Telephone or telegraph system.



APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'NO MODEL.

33 Then gitovmyd No. 769,306. PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904. P. E. DENZER & W. W. BLACK. TELEPHONE 0R TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FIT-ED 831313. 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

no MODEL.

Udlituwscs:

1m cntnr s 5117676 PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904 F. E. DENZER & W. W. BLACK. TELEPHONE OR TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Wifigodam N0 MODEL;

i131 itnrssrs No. 769,306. PATENTED SEPT. a, 1904. F. E. DENZER & W. w. BLACK. TELEPHONEYOR TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 3, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

6/: z ijiwzutur s Quorum 4 minim-552s UNITED STATES Patented September .6, 1902-.

PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK E. DENZER AND WILLTAM W. BLACK, OF EVERETT, T WASHINGTON.

TELEPHONE OR TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,306, dated September 6, 1904, Application filedfieptember 3, 1902. Serial No; 121,999. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FREDERICK EDENZER and WILLIAM W. BLACK, citizens of the United States, both residing at Everett. in the county of Snohomish and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Improvement upon Telephones and Telegraphs and Telephone Systems and Telegraph Systems, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in telephone and telegraph systems and instruments by which any number of instruments may be attached to one wire or line; but by means of our invention and improvements such instrument attached to such line or wire may be called up without ringing up or calling any other instrument attached to the same wire or'line, and when the operator has selected the instrument which he desires to use no other instrument is in use either for the purpose of hearing whatis said or telegraphed by means of said instrument and so arranged that one ring is all that is necessary for any of the instruments connected with the same line, so that all instruments on the same line can have the same signal for calling up by reason of the fact that the operator or suh scriber or user of the line selects the instrument to be called up, and when that is done no other instrument than the one selected can be called up while the selected ones are in use.

Our invention provides a novel method and means of enabling the user of the line to call up any instrument upon either the telephone or telegraph connectedwith the line'or Wire at will without ringing up or callingup any other instrument on said line.

p Our invention includes a device by which by-looking at the instrument any one can tell whether the same is in use or not in use.

When the selected instruments are in use, an

indicator on all of the instruments connected with the same wire shows the wire or system to be in use. distance.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the This indicator can be seen at a means for effecting the result reference is to the parties preoccupying the line.

be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a telephone embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the means whereby any instrument included in a party-line may be thrown into circuit by any other subscriber on the same line. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of the switch and pointer by means of which the desired instrument may be cut into circuit. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the instrumentalities whereby the talking-circuit may be completed or interrupted, as desired, and any one along the line prevented from interrupting or listening to Fig. 5 is a detail view of the means for interrupting the selective circuit. Fig. 6 is a detail View of the selective mechanism. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the parts shown in Fig.

5. Fig. 8 is a front view. showing the several magnets operatively assembled, on a' larger scale. ber of telephones in multiple.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The line-wires are indicated at 1, 2, and 8, the wire 1 being included in a selective circuit and the wires 2 and 3 comprising the talking or transmitting circuits. The electromagnets 4 and 5 are included in the selective circuit,

which is normally closed. Hence said electromagnets are normally magnetized and attract their armatures 6 and 7. The switch or circuit "closing device is included in the selective Fig. 9 is a detail view showing a num-' circuit and comprises a fixed contact 8 and a movable contact 9. The fixed contact 8 is connected by the conducting-wire 10 with the line-wire 1 at the point'X, and the movable contact 9 is connected by the wire 11 with one end of the wire forming the helix of the elec' trom'agnet 4. The other end of'the wire of said helix is connected by the wire 12 with one end of the wire constituting the helix of the electromagnet 5, the opposite end of which wire is connected by the wire 13 with the contact 14:. The contact 14: is movable and cooperates with the fixed contact 15, which is connected by the wire 16 with the line-wire 1 at the point E. A battery or electric generator 17 is included in the selective circuit, thereby enabling any one of the subscribers of a line-circuit to interrupt the se lective circuit when calling up any other party on the same line. The electric contacts 8 and 9 constitute elements of a switch which is adapted to be operated by suitable means to effect a step-by-step movement of the mechanism, whereby the party desired may be automatically cut into circuit to the exclusionof the remaining parties of the same line. As shown, a shaft 17 is provided and for convenience is supplied with a crank-handle 18, by means of which said shaft may be rotated. One or more tappets 19 is secured to the shaft 17 andis adapted to engage with the movable contact or switch element 9, so as to move it away from the fixed contact 8, whereby the circuit is interrupted. As the shaft 17 is rotated the circuit is alternately opened and closed, thereby sending a series of impulses over the line-wire 1 and which are utilized to cut the desired instrument into circuit in the manner and through the instrumentalities herein set forth. Each instrument is provided with dial 20, pointer 21, and ratchet mechanism for effecting a step-by-step movement of the pointer over the numerals of the dial.

The arbor 22 is electrically connected with the pointer 21 and a conducting-spring 23 is normally in contact with the arbor 22 to establish the circuit therethrough under certain conditions. A conducting-wire 24 connects the spring 23 with the telephone or like instrument 25. Ratchet-wheels 26 and 27 are secured to the arbor 22, so as to rotate therewith, and the teeth of these ratchet-wheels face in opposite directions. The feed-pawl 28 cooperates with the ratchet-wheel 26 and is pivotally connected to the armature 6. A detent-pawl 29 cooperates with the ratchet-wheel 27 and is connected by pitman 30 with the said armature 6. Under normal conditions the detentpawl 29 is in engagement with a tooth of the ratchetavheel 27 When the selective circuit is interrupted, as by rotation of the shaft 17, the electromagnet 4 becomes demagnetized and the armature 6 moves away therefrom under the influence of the retractile spring 31, and since said armature is pivotally supported intermediate of its ends the pawls 28 and 29 receive a simultaneous movement away from the ratchet-Wheels, the feed-pawl 28 riding upon the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 26. hen the selective circuit is closed by the contacts 8 and 9 coming together when released from the switch-operating means, the electromagnet 4.

is vitalized and again attracts the armature 6. causing the pawls 28 and 29 to move in an opposite direction, the movement being of such amplitude as to carry the pointer 21 the distance from one numeral to the next in order, the detent-pawl 29 preventing over movement of the pointer. The outward movement of the armature 6 is limited by the adjustable stop 32, which consists of a set-screw threaded into a bracket At each interruption of the selective circuit the feed-pawl moves forward, and as the circuit is closed the feed-pawl returns to a normal position and moves the ratchet-wheel cooperating therewith, the arbor, and the pointer a distance to insure the travel of the outer end of the pointer from one numeral to the next in successive order.

The circuit for transmitting impulses corresponding to sound-vibrations includes a fixed contact 34. and a movable contact 35, which are normally closed,so as to cut the instrument out of circuit. The movable contact 35, like the movable contact 9, is preferably springactuated, although it may be of any structural type to automatically close the circuit at this point. The movable contact projects into the path of the pointer 21, and when the latter comes in contact therewith the circuit is interrupted between the parts 31 and 35 and is established through the pointer 21, arbor 22, spring 23, conducting-wire 24, and the telephone or analogous instrument 25. The contact 35 is electrically connected by wire 36 with the line-wire 2 at the point A. The contact 3 1 is connected by wire 37 with the spring 38, which normally is in electrical connection with the fixed contact 39, connected by wire 40 to the junction J, the wire 11 connecting said junction with the line-wire 3 at the point H. A wire or electric conductor 42 connects the junction J with the instrument 25, which, as stated, may be of any type according to the nature of the line embodying the invention. Normally the circuit does not include the instrument and is as follows: beginning at A, thence through wire 36 to the contact 35 to contact 3 1, through wire 37 to spring 38 to contact 39, through wire 10 to junction J, thence to wire 3 at the point H by means of wire 11. The circuit through the instrument of the party called and designated by the numeral on the dial opposite to the pointer is as follows: beginning at A, thence to contact 35 through the wire 36, thence through pointer 21, arbor 22, spring 23,wire 24: to the instrument 25, thence to the line-wire 3 through the wires 12 and 11.

The push-bar 13 is slidably mounted in a suitable guide and is provided with a button 14,0onveniently positioned to be pressed upon. A spring 45 is provided to return the pushbar to a normal position after being released from the restraining means when actuated to interrupt the selective circuit to prevent any one along the line from interrupting the lIO parties preoc'cupying the same. A projection 46 extends laterallyfrom the push-bar 43 and overhangs the spring 38 to come in contact therewith and interrupt the circuit through the parts 38 and 39 when the push-bar is depressed. A spring-contact 47 is carried by instrument of thesubscriber with whom it is desired to communicate into circuit in the manner stated switches his own instrument into circuit by depressing the push-bar 43,

which brings the contacts 47 and 48 in electrical connection and at the same time interrupts the selective circuit by moving the spring 38 away from the contact 39. A single ring is necessary only to call the subscriber to the instrument, as all the remaining instruments are silent, because they are not in circuit.

The lever 50, from which the receiver 51 is normally suspended, is provided with an extension 52 at its inner or rear end to normally engage with and press the contact 14 against the contact 15, so as to close the selective circuit at this point. When the receiver is removed from the hook or suspending-lever 50 its inner end lnovingaway from the contact 14 permits the selective circuit to be interruptecl thereby preventing interference of any one with the parties using the line. A

' spring-actuated hook 53 is pivoted to the receiver-hook or lever 50, and its lower end eX-- I tends within the path of a stop-54, applied to or forming a part of the push-bar 43. A pin 55 is adapted to be engaged by the upper end of the springactuatedhook 53, so as to normally hold its lower end out of the path of the stop 54 when the receiver 51 is suspended from the hook 50; However, when the receiver is moved from the hook 50 the lower end of the hook 53 projects across the path of the stop 54, so as to come in contact therewith when the-receiver 51 is replaced upon the hook 50 and causes the push-bar 43 to start upward a distance to unlock the contacts 47 and 48, thereby permitting the spring 45 to return the push-bar to a normal position. A stop 56 limits the inward movement of the push bar.

The armature 7 constitutes an electricallyactuated stop to prevent inward movement of the push-bars 43 of the instrument not in use. As hereinbetore stated, the selective circuit, including the electromagnet 5, is normally closed. -Hence the armature 7 is attracted and normally held out of the path of the push bar, which may be depressed; but when said cannot be depressed.

I ceiver 'from the hook 50 the instruments not included-in the talking-circuit cannot be included in said circuit, because their push-bars In order that it may be determined at a glance whether the line is in service or not, a pointer 57 is connected to the armature 7 so as to move therewith, and letters, such as O ant O, are provided to cooperate with the pointer 57 to indicateoff and closed. When the parties preoccupying the line are through and replace the receiver 51 upon the book 50, the selective circuitis closed and the push-bars of the instruments used returned to normal position, thereby permitting any subscriber on the line to use the same. v

The several instruments of a party-line are similarly constructed, and each is differently numbered, the contacts 34 and 35 being placed opposite to the number of the instrument, s'o

that when the pointer 21 of any instrument is opposite to the number corresponding with that of the instrument it will come in contact with the switch element 35 and interrupt the circuit'through the contacts 34 and 35 and establishthe circuit through the pointer 21 so as to switch the instrument 25 into circuit, whereby the party calling may communicate with the party called and secure a monopoly of the line-and prevent interruption or listening in the manner and by proper manipulation of the instrumentalities herein specified.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In combination, a selective and a communicating circuit; aselective mechanism in the selective circuit, the same comprising a pointer and a dial, means for making and breaking zthe selective circuit, actuating means for operating the selective mechanism by a step-bystep movement and controlled by the making and breaking of the selective circuit, a switch normally cutting the communicating instru ment out of circuit and adapted to be actu- IIO ated by the aforesaid pointer of the selective mechanism to throw the communicating instrument into circuit, the lever or receiverhook and the switch 14 and 15 controlled by the said lever for efiecting a breaking of the selective circuit to prevent interference with the parties preoccupying the line by any other party on the same line, substantially as set forth. I

2. In combination, selective and communicating circuits, means in the selective circuit for making and breaking the same, a selective mechanism, electrically-actuated means operated by the making and the breaking of the selective circuit to operate the selective mech anism by a step-by-step movement, a switch in the communicating circuit adapted to be operated by the selective mechanism, the switch 38 and 39 in the selective circuit, a push-bar for operating the switch 38 and 39 to interrupt the selective circuit when the instrument of the communicating circuit is switched into action and interlocking means for securing the said push-bar when moved downward, substantially as specified.

3. In combination, aselective circuit including a circuit-breaker and a switch, a communieating circuit, a selective mechanism. means for actuating the selective mechanism by a step-by-step movement and electrically controlled by the making and the breaking of the selective circuit, the communicating instrument in the communicating circuit, a switch 14 and15 for throwing the communicating instrument into and out of action, the switch 47 and 48 in said communicating circuit, a pushbar for closing the switch 47 and 48 and cutting the communicating instrument into action, and a lever or receiver-hook for controlling the switch 14 and 15 of the selective circuit, whereby the latter is broken when the receiver is off the hook, substantially as described.

4. In combination, selective and communieating circuits, a circuit-breaker in the selective circuit, a selective mechanism, means for controlling the selective mechanism by the opening and the closing of the selective circuit, a switch in the communicating circuit controlled by the selective mechanism, a communicating instrument,a switch 47 and 48, a pushbar for opening and closing said switch 47 and 48 for throwing the communicating instrument into and out of action, an electricallycontrolled stop located in the selective circuit and adapted to prevent movement of the pushbar when the line is in use, and an indicator connected with said electrically controlled stop to designate whether the line is in service or out of service, substantially as specified.

5. In combination, selective and communieating circuits, a circuit-breaker in the selective circuits, a selective mechanism, means for controlling the selective mechanism by the opening and the closing of the selective circuit, a switch in the communicating circuit controlled by the selective mechanism, a communicating instrument, a switch 47 and 48, a push-bar for opening and closing said switch 47 and 48 for throwing the communicating instrument into and out of action, a lever or receiver-hook, and means connected with said lever or receiver-hook for returning the pushbar to anormal position when the receiver is placed in position, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination, selective and communieating circuits, a circuit-breaker in the selective circuit, a selective mechanism, means for operating the selective mechanism by the opening and the closing of the selective circuit, a switch in the communicating circuit adapted to be operated by the selective mechanism, the spring 38, two sets of electric contacts included in the selective and communicating circuits, a push-bar adapted to operate the spring 38 and control one of said sets of electric contacts, an interlocking switch included in the communicating circuit and controlled by the push-bar, the lever 50 for controlling the second set of the aforementioned electric contacts, and cooperating means between the push-bar and the lever 50 for cii'ecting a resetting of the push-bar and a separa tion of the component parts of the said interlocking switch, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK E. DENZER. 8.] WILLIAM w. BLACK. LL. a] Witnesses:

E. LARSON,

RALPH (J. BELL. 

